Car Camping / Trip Reports / Photos / Buildouts / “Overland” / Expedition Rigs Area (homeless?)

I think you'll be pleased. These things are slightly larger than the ENO doublenest and use quality materials and techniques like triple stitching

 

I contacted a company about becoming a distributor for them. The product is solid and they do weigh approx. 60 pounds. But I couldn't cover the number they needed me to grab. I will be checking back with them now that I'm in a better position.

 

As a teenager I use to off-road in the Rockies where I grew up, it was so accessible we would go on our lunch breaks in high school, and I would get stuck/break down at-least once a month. I always appreciated folks stopping to help and in return I always stop to help others even on the highway. Never had an issue, never felt threatened it's still important to have your guard up but 99.9% of the time it's honest people and by driving past them without at least checking is bad juju in my eyes.

Camped there a few months ago, it was magical and I had it all to myself!

 

Camp locations for anyone interested around the Bryce Canyon and Zion NP area. (BLM Land)

We did the loop mentioned previously, and had no planned camping locations. We found both of these on the fly and they did not disappoint. Figured I would share these with the rest of you fine people.



This first one is between Bryce and Zion, right outside Mt Carmel Junction, on the way to Zion. Overlooks Mt Carmel Junction, and has almost full 360 degree views. It was an awesome find at 10pm, starving and tired from hiking Bryce. We didnt have a good sense of scenery until the morning.

37.2321228, -112.6953252


Pics of camp..

This was taken at 9:11pm. It didn't get dark on the ridge until 10pm.

10pm. Right on the edge.

The next morning




Wife and I even took our first showers since getting our setup months ago. It was very refreshing and freeing while overlooking everything and gettin some cool breeze. Lol

The spot as seen from the main trail. Turn right off the trail, drive up to the edge, and there ya go.


Second spot is outside of Rockville, just West of Zion. This spot was amazing. The Smithsonian Butte byway was a great fun drive in. It was even kinda nasty in some places. 4wd may be required, depending on conditions and if pulling a trailer. It was steep, filled with loose rock, and off camber washed out sections. Once up on top, the Gooseberry Mesa area has a ton of trails and camping. Head West on Gooseberry Mesa, It will be off on the right. Be sure to get the right trail.. there are a few out there. We got in around 9pm and couldn't see the views, what we climbed, etc, and came to a section I had to get out and walk to make sure we could clear it and that it continued on to the edge. The section wasn't too bad. Some height is required, maybe 4wd depending on conditions and pulling a trailer. It lead to a very remote spot with fantastic views. We could tell it was a nice spot even at night. The moon lit up the scenery just enough, but we couldn't see far. The next morning was amazing.

37.1400439, -113.1284030






Can barely see the truck..

 

@XPOTRPR tha is for sharing! Both those spots look awesome.
I'm always on the lookout for good dispersed camping in that area

 

No problem! Just in case anyone else does a trip with no planned agenda or stops. We worried a couple times we wouldnt find anything.. but we lucked out for sure.

 

That can absolutely happen.. unfortunately it can also happen anytime, anywhere.

I'm not a "secret spot" kind of guy.. I like to share with my fellow TW members. I trust all ya'll... so dont fuck it up!

 

I have a couple of those. Great for the price but not as rugged as you would hope. The lid is cracked down the middle of one and the other has a small crack in the bottom

 

How did / does the road shower work for you? Sorry if I missed the review.

 

I haven't done any sort of review yet, I can explain the upgrades I did and experience here now.

I bought the road shower (which I believe is a road shower 1) used from Blue Ridge Overland Gear while traveling through Virginia. Couldn't pass the price at $100 and knew my wife wouldn't complain bout this mod. It was missing the air stem and was still dirty from travels of previous owner so I got it home eventually, cleaned it up and ordered a new air stem. I tried sourcing the air stem locally but it was a specific size so I ordered from the road shower website. Once that showed up I tested it. At the time the orange hose nozel handle leaked pretty good and it took a few tries to understand the over pressure release feature. Shortly after testing I decided to basically revamp the road shower as I noticed the newer ones have a shut off valve off the tank before the hose and the interior of the hose was skurffy. I replaced the plumbing off the tank and put a brand new food grade hose on as well as the Velcro strips to fasten the hose. One thing I changed was to not constantly have the spray handle constantly on the hose, I just added a rubber sealed cap to keep inside the hose clean while traveling. I just keep the spray handle in the trasharoo. Here's some pics..








As far as experience with the shower.. it worked rather well. My wife actually loved it and said it was the best mod on the truck! It was definitely nice to get a shower in while we were driving cross country for three weeks. We hit all kinds of weather and temps. For the most part showering in the morning it was on the chilly side, so we would boil two kettles of water and add it to the tank. Once the water mixed it was actually amazing. As far as usage, the first time my wife showered it took the initial air pressure and another fill for her to fully shower and she damn near used all five gallons in the tank! I poured another five in the tank and showered next, I'd guess I used about three gallons my first official use. Both of us could definitely be more efficient with how much we used. The next few times was better using a little less water each time. We showered in a privacy tent we have, in our bathing suits, and completely naked depending on location..





And side note, this makes a great shower mat!

$25 Kempf Tire Link Mat 18 1/2" X 28"

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002...d+door+mat&dpPl=1&dpID=51FwI52slvL&ref=plSrch

 

Awesome.. I picked one up a few weeks back but have not had a chance to test it out. I read a very similar review on overlandbound so I feel better now!

Thank You for your time

 

Nice! what a coincidence.. My wife and I used our shower for the first time this trip over the 4th, and I mentioned to her we needed one of these.. I was trying to describe it but couldnt get it across and couldnt remember exactly what they were. The link is much appreciated!

Although.. we used our Yeti 75 as a shower floor, stood on that, and it worked quite nicely actually! The top is textured so its "no slip" and water proof already, keeps everything nice and clean. lol

 

Thanks for the Amazon Link, that is exactly what I have been looking for to put in the camp box for when I need to use the Waterport to take a shower. Should hold up a lot better than like a wood shower mat.

 

Jason,
Would something like this work for passing power through the floor (provided the terminals were adequately sealed)? Or is that a bad idea?

 

Def. was gonna do wood myself a while ago than found the mat. It lives next to the fridge inbetween the cubby, never in the way but always there. I've also used it a couple times as a tent entry mat.

 

Use a cord grip, much safer and a continuous wire.

 

Thanks! Looks like this would hold up better than wood anyways.

 

True. But it's the way it has to pass through. Using a cable gland is great if it's a straight run, but not so great if you need 90*, and 90* glands are a little bulky.

 

I don't know where you're working it in but, I just hate seeing open + terminals around. A little metal bridging can cause arc and possibly fire. This could be another option for you. Just add safety covers.
http://www.wiringproducts.com/2-stud-junction-block.html

 

Isn't that the same thing, just a different style? Can't you use boots to cover the terminals, like the terminals on a winch?

The factory spot is under the driver's seat. I think there is also another place under the rear seat that isn't used.

I was looking for a solution for running power to my bed for interior and exterior lighting, usb ports, possibly an inverter, and maybe a fridge and second battery at some point. I don't want to keep running power from the front, through the firewall, under the carpet, through the grommet under the seat, along the frame to the back. I'd rather run a single, 2 or 4 gauge cable to a sealed location in (or under) the bed to distribute power to things in the back of the truck.